Table 1.

Six Clusters of Physican Practice Behaviors and the Davis Observation Codes Included in Each Cluster

Codes in Each Cluster	Abbreviated Definitions of Codes
Technical cluster
Structuring interaction	Discussed what is to be accomplished in current interactions
History taking	Physician inquiring about or patient describing details related to the current chief complaintor to prior illness
Family information	Discussing family medical or social history, and/or current family functioning
Physical examination	Any aspect of physical examination of patient
Evaluation feedback	Physician telling patient about results of history, physical, lab work, etc.
Planning treatment	Physician prescribing a medication, diagnostic, or treatment plan
Treatment effects	Physician inquiring about or patient describing result of ongoing therapeutic intervention
Procedure	Any treatment or diagnostic procedure done in office
Health behavior cluster
Compliance	Discussing previously requested behavior
Health education	Physician presenting information regarding health to patient
Health promotion	Physician asking for change in patient's behavior in order to increase or promote health
Nutrition	Any question or discussion about nutrition
Exercise	Any question or discussion about exercise
Addiction cluster
Substance use	Any question or discussion of drinking alcohol or use of other substances
Smoking behavior	Any question about or discussion of smoking or other use of tobacco
Patient activation cluster
Health knowledge	Physician asking or patient spontaneously offering what patient knows or believes abouthealth and disease
Patient question	Patient asking question
Chatting	Discussion of topics not related to current visit
Preventive service cluster
Preventive service	Physician discussing, planning, or performing any screening task associated with disease prevention
Counseling cluster
Counseling	Physician discussing interpersonal relations or current emotional state of patient orpatient's family